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CNN Live Saturday
Kuwait Government Arrests 15 in Connection With Attack on U.S. Marines
Aired October 12, 2002 - 17:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Kuwaiti officials say they've rounded up 15 people in connection with the deadly attack this week on U.S. Marines stationed there. They say the suspects are part of a terrorist cell whose leader has connections with al Qaeda. Martin Savidge joins us now from Kuwait City with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Kuwaiti government says it is case closed as far as their investigation into a terrorist cell that had been operating here in Kuwait, a group that had successfully launched a deadly attack against U.S. Marines during a training exercise on Tuesday. One Marine was killed, and another wounded.
The minister of interior, Sheikh Mohammed Ben-Khalif Al-Sabba (ph) said that 15 Kuwaitis are now in custody and that they've confessed to being part of this group. Not only that, but that they have also confessed to apparently planning attacks on five other targets here in Kuwait, targets that were said to be either American or foreign interests.
The Kuwaiti government is stopping short of saying that this was an al Qaeda cell. They say only that the group's leader, a 21-year- old, had confessed to having allegiance to Osama bin Laden. They also say that this particular group did not get its orders from the leadership of al Qaeda.
The 21-year-old Annas Al-Khindari was killed in the return of gun fire by U.S. Marines, as well as his 26-year-old cousin.
So the Kuwaiti government is saying by the grace of God, the terrorist cell has been brought to an end. But the whole issue is not necessarily over. You see, the Kuwaiti government has expressed some frustration bordering on anger over the fact that it took the U.S. Marines three to four hours to report the terrorist attack to the Kuwaiti government, and that Kuwaiti security forces were initially prevented from getting on their own island to investigate.
The minister of interior says he's certain that the U.S. Marines have a good explanation, but he's waiting to hear about it. He hopes that explanation will come from a team of U.S. investigators, expected to arrive here later tonight, or on Sunday, including FBI agents that will be investigating the murder of the Marine.
Martin Savidge, CNN, Kuwait City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
U.S. Marines>
Aired October 12, 2002 - 17:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Kuwaiti officials say they've rounded up 15 people in connection with the deadly attack this week on U.S. Marines stationed there. They say the suspects are part of a terrorist cell whose leader has connections with al Qaeda. Martin Savidge joins us now from Kuwait City with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Kuwaiti government says it is case closed as far as their investigation into a terrorist cell that had been operating here in Kuwait, a group that had successfully launched a deadly attack against U.S. Marines during a training exercise on Tuesday. One Marine was killed, and another wounded.
The minister of interior, Sheikh Mohammed Ben-Khalif Al-Sabba (ph) said that 15 Kuwaitis are now in custody and that they've confessed to being part of this group. Not only that, but that they have also confessed to apparently planning attacks on five other targets here in Kuwait, targets that were said to be either American or foreign interests.
The Kuwaiti government is stopping short of saying that this was an al Qaeda cell. They say only that the group's leader, a 21-year- old, had confessed to having allegiance to Osama bin Laden. They also say that this particular group did not get its orders from the leadership of al Qaeda.
The 21-year-old Annas Al-Khindari was killed in the return of gun fire by U.S. Marines, as well as his 26-year-old cousin.
So the Kuwaiti government is saying by the grace of God, the terrorist cell has been brought to an end. But the whole issue is not necessarily over. You see, the Kuwaiti government has expressed some frustration bordering on anger over the fact that it took the U.S. Marines three to four hours to report the terrorist attack to the Kuwaiti government, and that Kuwaiti security forces were initially prevented from getting on their own island to investigate.
The minister of interior says he's certain that the U.S. Marines have a good explanation, but he's waiting to hear about it. He hopes that explanation will come from a team of U.S. investigators, expected to arrive here later tonight, or on Sunday, including FBI agents that will be investigating the murder of the Marine.
Martin Savidge, CNN, Kuwait City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
U.S. Marines>
